RIYADH: Austria is committed to support the transformation strategy that has been established by Saudi Vision 2030, said Austrian Ambassador Gregor W. Koessler.
Speaking at a function organized by ILF Tecon to mark its 50th anniversary as a company, the Austrian ambassador said, “Allow me to emphasize that ILF Saudi Arabia has made a huge contribution over the last 40 years in the Kingdom. We as Austrians are very proud of that as the headquarters of ILF group is seated in Austria.”
He added: “We work together with the institutions of the Kingdom on implementing Vision 2030, but of course we were here even before, trying to foster the development of the Kingdom with the transfer of know-how in the spirit of partnership.
“What ILF has been doing especially in the water management sector, desalination and more recently with their entry into the fields of oil and gas as well as environmental protection is highly important and does reflect the high quality of Austrian engineering and technical expertise.”
ILF is an engineering consulting company that implements complex projects in international plant engineering.
Koessler said Austria hosted the Saudi-Austrian Joint Economic Committee meeting in December, and met with Salim Al-Gudhea, Saudi deputy minister of economy and planning, to discuss how to work together in implementing the Vision 2030 in the areas where Austria has specific expertise. He said infrastructure, green technology, health and housing are the areas of focus.
“Of course, ILF Tecon has specific expertise in many of these areas, but as an Austrian ambassador, I support cooperation for all Austrian companies and institutions across the board,” he said.
Klaus Lasser, ILF CEO, said his company has 2,000 employees at more than 40 office locations across five continents. The ILF Group have a strong regional presence that makes it possible to interact with clients and project parties on site.
Karl Tobler, managing director ILF Tecon, said, “We encourage young Saudi engineers to join us. We offer training programs to develop skills. We first train them in the office giving an overview about the company and basic training then send them to our project sites in cities including Riyadh, Yanbu, Dahran, Jeddah and Makkah.”
Austria committed to support Vision 2030 strategy
Austria committed to support Vision 2030 strategy
National Center for Wildlife releases more than 60 wildlife species at King Khalid Royal Reserve
The Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, in cooperation with the National Center for Wildlife, released more than 60 wildlife species at King Khalid Royal Reserve today near Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This initiative, according to the agency, is part of programs to reintroduce endangered species to their natural habitats, reflecting the integrated national efforts to protect wildlife and promote its sustainability.
“Releasing wildlife into the King Khalid Royal Reserve enhances biodiversity and restores natural habitats within the reserve. This contributes to providing a safe natural environment that supports the stability of wildlife and facilitates its adaptation to its natural habitats”, said the authority’s CEO, Talal Al-Hariqi.
He added that such efforts align with the National Strategy for Environmental Conservation and fulfill one of the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to create an attractive environment that contributes to improving quality of life and promoting sustainability.
He also said that the collaboration with the National Center for Wildlife Development is a model for institutional integration in implementing reintroduction programs. This is achieved by unifying scientific and technical expertise and applying global best practices in wildlife conservation, thus ensuring the success of these programs and the long-term sustainability of their results.
Ziad bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, director-general of projects and operations at the authority, said that the King Khalid Royal Reserve has released more than 60 wildlife species, including Arabian oryx, Arabian hares, and Arabian gazelles. This initiative aims to enrich the reserve’s biodiversity, contribute to restoring ecological balance through the reintroduction of endangered animals, promote sustainability, and support and revitalize ecotourism.
He said that over past years, the authority released more than 300 wild animals of different types, including reptiles, mammals, and local birds, all of which are classified on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as species that are vulnerable or threatened with extinction.
He said that animals released in the King Khalid Royal Reserve are subject to periodic and continuous monitoring through field studies and modern monitoring techniques, such as surveillance cameras and tracking collars, where many natural births and herd growth have been recorded, reflecting the success of the release and reintroduction programs.
